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“This struck athe way”
“What?”
“I don’t know” In his pocket, he fingered a receipt for the tank of gas he’d bought that ure it out”
As the medical exaes of his thoughts The mystery of Leah would have to wait
Alex and Deke stood outside the town house as the urney The crowd of residents ringing the edges of the crime scene tape watched as if they were on the set of a cop show Out here, it was easy for a bystander to pretend it wasn’t all that real
Twentythe body bag A few startled gasps rose up from the crowd A couple pointed One or two took pictures with their cell phones
Alex ered to watch the chaos At the edge of the tape he caught the gaze of a tall man with a thick stubble of beard, wide-set eyes, and short, dark hair He wore plaid pajama bottoms, a UT sweatshirt, and a thick sheepskin-lined jacket
Carefully, Alex pulled out his badge “Alex Morgan, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Mind if I ask you a few questions” A question that didn’t sound like a question but an order
“Sure” The guy lowered his phone and tucked it in his pocket
“Your name?”
“Tiers”
“You know the resident of that town house?”
“Leggy tall brunette Liked to run She just o” He leaned in a fraction “Is she dead?”
“Yes”
“Shit”
“Seen anyone co from her town house?”
“No”
“But you noticed her”
“I ed Hot But I didn’t track who came and went”
“Anyone around here ould have noticed?”
“You could ask Carol She lives next door She pays attention”
“She here now?”
“No Likely at work She’s a lawyer”
“Okay Carol got a last name?”
“Rivers But I don’t know the name of the law firm”
Alex glanced at the town house next to Deidre’s and noted the address “Are all the places here furnished?”
“No The guy ns that unit works for a bank Got transferred to New York or Charlotte He’s renting because he can’t sell Left a few pieces of furniture, hoping it would rent”
“Thanks” He walked back toward Deke, careful to keep all trace of emotion from his face The less fodder for the news crews and cell phone ca up on the Internet or networks
Only when he turned away from the crowd and stood shoulder to shoulder with Deke did he speak “I’ to nail the prick who did this, Deke”
His brother’s face rese you off the chain on this one, Alex Good hunting”
After the medical examiner removed the body, Alex took a few minutes to stand in the cold and allow his mind to inventory and process what he’d seen
None of the furniture, drapes, or carpet appeared to have been disturbed in Deidre’s town house Of course the killer could have taken sons of sexual assault Whoever had cooal in mind: kill Deidre and cover his tracks